Preview: Knicks at Nuggets

March 13, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Knicks at Nuggets

Carmelo Anthony might not be picking the best time to return to the city where he played the first 7 1/2 seasons of his career. Anthony will make his first appearance in Denver in more than two years when the New York Knicks visit the red-hot Nuggets on Wednesday. Denver, which traded Anthony to New York in a blockbuster deal in February 2011 that reshaped both rosters, is seeking its 10th consecutive victory.

The Nuggets have won 13 straight games at home and are 27-3 at the Pepsi Center - tied with Miami for the fewest home losses. They will provide an imposing obstacle against a Knicks' squad that was pounded by the Golden State Warriors 92-63 on Monday in the opener of a five-game road trip. Anthony, back in the lineup after sitting out the previous three games with an ailing right knee, scored 14 points as New York was held to a season-low total.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, MSG (New York), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE KNICKS (38-23): Anthony is bothered by fluid in the back of his knee that is causing stiffness and soreness and he didn't look like the player who is second in the league in scoring in Monday's loss. Returning to the Mile High City will test him physically and mentally. "For me to go back my first time not wearing a Denver Nuggets jersey, it's going to be some mixed emotions ... knowing the run that we had back there in Denver," Anthony said. "It was kind of a new beginning that started when I got there. So it's a lot of emotions."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (43-22): Points have not been an issue for high-scoring Denver, but it displayed another facet of its offense in Monday's 108-93 win in Phoenix. Center Kosta Koufos, who wound up with the Nuggets as part of the Anthony deal, scored a career-high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting and also pulled down 10 rebounds. "He's ready to get a pass and he hustles and gets hustle rebounds," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "He's gaining confidence by doing the little things of playing basketball and I really enjoy it."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Anthony has averaged 29.5 points as the Knicks split a pair of meetings with Denver in New York.

2. The Nuggets have scored at least 100 points in 23 of the last 24 games.